They had decided to spend the morning at the beach, and then they'd drive all the way to the very tip of Cape Cod and check out Provincetown. They got in a couple of good swims and even caught a nap under the umbrella before heading back to the motel to shower and change, then they were on the road to P-town for lunch and adventure.
Provincetown was mobbed, it was one of the biggest weekends of the summer after all, but they managed to get a parking spot in a municipal lot, and Amelia had given Logan the head's up about bringing lots of change to max out the parking meter. They walked into the bustling downtown part of town and found a restaurant where they put their names in for a table and then went out to poke around in the shops during the at least two hour wait the manager told them they'd have to wait for a table. They didn't mind, and went back into the teeming throng of tourists and townspeople. Everyone was smiling and happy. Some folks were looking around a tad overwhelmed by the overall gay tone that was prevalent everywhere, but only because they were seeing things they never saw back home, like men that were less than half dressed holding hands and kissing in the streets, and honest-to-goodness lesbians also showing public displays of affection, to say nothing of the number of "seaman" puns on signs, and the use of penis imagery scattered about. But nothing was any tackier or crasser than anything else you'd see in the touristy parts of all the other Cape towns, and most of it was more clever and funnier. And so much of Provincetown was artsy and colorful and wonderful. Kendall and Logan liked the architecture and the atmosphere.
They wandered in and out of a few shops, picking up some post cards and little souvenir type trinkets for their folks and Katie and Lorraine and even Essy. Then they found an art gallery called the Three Mermaids and decided to see what was in there. The gallery was the first floor of an old house that had been built by a whaling captain. Inside the original hardwood floors gleamed in the places they weren't covered by rugs.
"These look like Mrs. Harrison's rugs," Logan pointed out to Kendall. Kendall stopped looking at the art hung upon the walls long enough to look down and agree.
They were staying close to each other, looking at and commenting on the pictures on the walls. There were oil paintings and water colors, mostly of beach landscapes, some of the quaint streets and flora that were seen in the Cape Cod towns. Kendall found a picture he really liked. It was an oil painting, about eleven by fourteen inches.
"Logan, look, that looks just like Nauset Beach."
"It does," Logan agreed.
"I think it'd look good at home, it's our favorite beach, after all," Kendall said.
Logan laughed. "It's also the only beach we've ever been to, but, yes, it is a favorite."
When they had walked into the store, the only other person in there was a young man behind the counter. He had kept himself busy while they browsed, but now he came over to see if he could be of assistance.
"Hi, I'm Rick," he said, shaking hands with each of them. "I'm one of the owners of The Three Mermaids, and I couldn't help but overhear you saying this picture put you in mind of Nauset Beach." Kendall and Logan nodded. Rick smiled a warm smile, he had nice white teeth that set off his dark skin beautifully. He also had a slight accent, a little like French, but not quite. "Here, let me show you," Rick said, taking the framed painting off the wall and turning it so the back was towards Kendall and Logan. "Viola."
Kendall and Logan leaned in to read the sticker on the back of the painting. The top line said "Nauset Beach/Summer 2012". The next line said the painting cost five hundred and ninety five dollars. The last line had the name of the gallery.
Just then the door to the shop opened, and another man came in. He looked to be in his late thirties to early forties, and he was casually dressed in a fitting way for a seaside community-comfortable cargo shorts and a light blue t shirt and a pair of huarache leather sandals. The clothes were of the highest quality, they gave the man an air of relaxed elegance.
"And here is the artist now," Rick beamed, giving the man a delighted smile as he walked over to the group by the counter. "This is my partner, Walter-partner in the gallery, partner in life."
Walter gave Rick a kiss on the cheek and then shook hands with Kendall and Logan. "Welcome to our place, it's nice to meet you," he said during the handshakes.
"Walter, this man recognized this was Nauset Beach immediately," Rick told him, turning the painting back over and placing it on the counter face up.
"I'm so glad," Walter said.
"It's my favorite beach," Kendall said.
"It's also the only beach we've ever been to, so far," Logan laughed.
"The painting is still very good," Kendall said.
"Oh, yes, definitely," Logan agreed.
Rick said, "I also overheard something you mentioned when you came in, I hope you don't mind." Kendall and Logan looked at him expectantly. "You said these rugs look like Mrs. Harrison's rugs, and I have to tell you-they are. She's Walter's grandmeme."
Kendall, Logan, and Walter all looked at one another in some surprise.
"Wait, no-I know Mark said he had a cousin with a gallery down here, but the name was something else, something to do with a bird…" Logan said.
"The Pelican!" Rick said, laughing. "He named the place before we met, he wanted it to have something to do with the sea, but pelicans on Cape Cod? I ask you." Rick rolled his eyes affectionately at his partner.
"What can I say? I felt there were too many seagull themed everything, and wanted a bird people associate with the sea-little did I realize that pelicans don't come this far north. I was born and raised in Virginia, that's where my branch of the family wound up," he explained to the guys.
"Anyway, we met and started seeing each other, and I didn't feel like it was my place to say anything, but once we decided to be equal partners in the gallery I insisted on changing the name," Rick said, picking up the story. "We were kicking names around and nothing was making us happy, but then we went to a flea market and found that sign that's out front with the three mermaids on it, and it was like it was meant to be."
"So, you know Mark, and Grandmeme!" Walter said. "You must be the guys with the interesting names that he met at Harvard." Walter couldn't quite remember the names, but he knew when his cousin told him how he found a home for some of the rugs their names sounded melodious.
"Yes, I'm Logan Mitchell, and this is Kendall Knight-my fiancé," Logan added a little shyly, giving Kendall a sidelong look that made all three guys' hearts melt.
"That's the first time he got to say that," Kendall said proudly. "We just got engaged the other day-at Nauset Beach."
"Congratulations!" Walter said. "You must let me give you this painting as a wedding gift."
"Oh no, we couldn't," Kendall and Logan both protested.
"I insist! That is, if you want it-maybe you would like to look around and see if there's something you'd like better?"
"Oh, no-I mean, everything in here's really nice, but I had already decided to get Kendall the painting," Logan said. "But it's too expensive to just give…"
"Nonsense! As a friend of Mark's, I would've given you the friends and family discount anyway, which is usually me giving something to someone who truly likes it. Plus, will you be hanging this in your apartment?" Both guys nodded. "Well then, it'll be in the same place as Grandmeme's rugs-I'd say that was meant to be!"
Logan was just about to speak up again, when Rick laid his hand gently on his arm. "Please, accept it with our warmest wishes for a happy marriage."
Logan and Kendall looked at each other-could they really accept such a generous gift from people they just met?
Walter's phone buzzed just then, and he pulled it out to see who was calling. "Ah, perfect! Excuse me, gentlemen, but I have to take this." He brought the phone up to his face and began talking. "Mark! You'll never guess who is in my shop, right now in front of me. Your friends Logan and Kendall!" They could hear a happy squawk from the phone, and then Walter walked away a few feet so he wouldn't rudely prevent the others from talking while he conversed with his cousin. Rick made polite small talk until Walter hung up his phone.
"Is he coming?" Rick asked Walter as he rejoined them.
"Yup, catching the ferry as we speak!" Walter turned to Kendall and Logan. "We're having a Fifth of July cookout tonight at our house, it's become a tradition. Steamed lobsters and clams and corn on the cob. Mark and his girlfriend are taking the ferry over from Boston. Can you join us too? Or do you already have plans?"
Kendall and Logan looked at each other, and were starting to say how they had no plans for the evening when Logan's phone buzzed.
"It's Mark," Walter said. Logan looked at the screen and sure enough, it was.
Logan answered his phone. "Are you coming?" Mark said, before Logan was done with the word hello.
Logan laughed. "You hardly gave your cousin time to ask us-are you sure we won't be intruding?" Logan said that both to Mark and Walter. Walter was shaking his head and saying it'd be on imposition at all, and Mark was saying in his ear that they had to be there, his cousin put on a great spread.
"And you have to see his house! Right on the beach, so cool-it's where I would've been for a long weekend if you hadn't gotten to Amelia first. As it is, I have to settle for just being there overnight. Hey! You and Kendall should stay too! We can go hit some bars after dinner and then walk back to the beach house and sleep it off."
While Mark was racing ahead with those plans, Walter and Rick were making basically the same suggestion to Kendall. They were explaining where they lived and how Kendall could park his car at the end of their street in a lot and leave it overnight, and how they had plenty of rooms for guests and that Mark was staying over with his girlfriend, plus they were expecting about a dozen other people for dinner. Logan finished up with Mark, promising that they'd see him at least at the cookout, and rejoined Kendall and their new friends. All plans were settled, after Walter and Rick reassured them they wouldn't be intruding and were completely welcome.
"It's how we spend our entire summer, with a house full of people visiting. That's the point of having a beach house," Walter assured them. "I'll wrap up the painting and bring it home, so you won't have to lug it around while you're sightseeing, and we'll see you at our place for dinner. We have extra everything ready for guests-toothbrushes, towels, even pajamas and swimsuits if you want. We'll probably eat around seven, but show up any time after six, we'll be home." Logan and Kendall asked if they could bring anything-wine or beer or anything else?
Rick spoke up. "We actually could use something for dessert," he admitted. "I completely forgot about that when I went shopping. But don't go out of your way, I could make a fruit salad or pick up a watermelon or something." Kendall and Logan insisted they could come up with something for dessert, they really wanted to contribute.
Kendall and Logan thanked their soon to be hosts, and headed back out to catch their lunch reservation. While they were walking, Logan called Mark back and asked what they could bring to thank his cousin and his partner for both the painting and the hospitality. Was there a special kind of wine he liked, or some drink of choice or favorite beer?
"Naw, forget that stuff, he's got a wine cellar that would put any store you've ever been to to shame, and he always has enough beer to float a naval ship," Mark said.
"Well, we can't show up there with just dessert," Logan said, thinking out loud.
"They asked you to get dessert? Let me tell you, if my cousin has one weakness, it's pie," Mark said.
"Pie? What kind of pie?" Logan asked.
"Any kind, you name it. His whole life he's been a freak for pies. Fruit pies, cream pies-anything you can think of, he loves it."
"Well, that's something then," Logan said. "What about Rick?"
"It's one of the things they bonded over," Mark chuckled. "They have a cream pie story even you guys would probably rather not hear…"
Logan laughed and thanked Mark and told him he was looking forward to seeing him and his date. They hung up and Logan filled Kendall in.
"We probably still have time to find a bakery before we have to be back at that restaurant, as long as it's nearby," Kendall said. Logan Googled with his phone and they followed directions to a bakery a couple of streets over. The place smelled incredible the minute they walked through the door. Logan told the woman behind the counter they were interested in pies when she asked if she could help them.
"And can we come by and pick them up later, say around 5 o'clock?" Kendall added.
"Sure-if you don't need them till then, we can make any kind you want," the woman said cheerfully.
"Should we get a couple of different kinds?" Logan asked Kendall.
"That's probably a good idea; Walter said there'd probably be a dozen people besides us and Mark and Walter and Rick."
Logan did some quick calculations in his head. If the pies were cut into six pieces, three pies would give them just enough for eighteen people, but if more people showed up, they could get eight pieces out of each pie. The bakery had some in the display case and they looked big. They could easily be cut into slightly smaller pieces to go further. Now all he had to do was come up with flavors, plus he wanted to try to be a little arty about it, since Walter and Rick were artists. An idea came to him and he smiled.
"Is it too much trouble to get pies with the crust on top in that lattice pattern?" Logan said, pointing to one of the pies.
"No trouble at all, I can make them anyway you like," the nice bakery lady assured him.
"Okay. Could we have a strawberry rhubarb and a blueberry like that, plus a banana cream pie?" Logan asked politely.
"Of course!" the baker said.
Kendall smiled at Logan. "Red, white, and blue, huh? I saw what you did there."
Logan bit his lower lip and blushed. "Is it too corny?"
"Not at all. I think it's damn clever," Kendall said.
"Me too," the baker added.
After a delicious lunch and walking around the town some more and taking pictures and climbing to the top of the Pilgrim Monument, they headed back to the bakery and picked up their pies and then Kendall drove them to the parking lot Walter had given him directions to. It was just a small dirt lot that had lots of threatening towing signs warning against non-residents parking there. Walter had given Kendall a laminated parking pass to hang from the rearview mirror. The lot had empty spaces, so Kendall and Logan figured people knew to take the towing signs seriously.
Walter and Rick's house was easy to find, their street was short and they had the last house on the left before you hit the Atlantic Ocean. It was big and modern with lots of glass facing the sea. Logan was carrying the pies in two handle bags from the bakery, so Kendall rang the doorbell. Mark answered the door and let them in to introduce them to everyone as he herded them to the kitchen so Logan could put the pies down. Kendall and Logan were the last to arrive, everyone else already had drinks in hand and were relaxed.
Once Logan put the pies down, and put the banana cream pie in the refrigerator, Mark gave him a hug and then brought them outside to where Rick and Walter were boiling big pots of water over a fire pit. They greeted the guys and then Logan introduced Kendall to Mark's girlfriend who was sitting on a lounge chair in the sand. She and Logan had met a few times before. Mark brought Kendall and Logan each a beer and they all sat down by Mark's girlfriend Abby. Kendall called to Walter asking if there was anything he could do to help, but Walter shook his head and said everything was covered for the moment. After a couple of minutes, Walter joined them where they sat.
"Hey, Walter, wait till you see what Logan and Kendall brought you," Mark said, smiling.
"What is it?" Walter asked, looking interested and hopeful.
"It's nothing much…" Logan began, but Mark interrupted him.
"Logan, you totally underestimate my cousin's love for pie."
"Pie?" Walter and Rick said together. They had their complete interest now.
"Um, yeah," Logan said shyly. "I wasn't sure what to get, so I went for a red, white, and blue theme…"
Walter was halfway into the house. Rick was laughing, following after Walter a bit more slowly.
"Good job, Logan. He'll love you for life now," Rick called over.
The dinner was a lot of fun, the company was lively and funny, and everyone had a great time. After dinner, Logan insisted on helping Rick clean up, even though Rick tried to insist guests shouldn't help.
"We're not guests, we're interlopers," Logan laughed. "You invited us last minute, we need to earn our keep."
"You did that with the pies," Rick said. "Did you notice Walter had some of each-did you notice I did?" Logan and Rick both laughed. The pies were a big hit. They cut them up into smaller pieces so everyone could try more than one kind. Since the main part of cleaning up was bringing everything into the kitchen and that step was done, Rick didn't keep arguing with Logan about helping. They just chatted while Rick filled the dishwasher.
"This place is incredibly beautiful," Logan said.
"Yeah, we love it. Especially the private beach," Rick said. "All the skinny dipping and everything that entails any time we want, when it's warm enough."
Logan blushed.
"You guys want to use it?" Rick asked.
Logan looked a little panicked.
"Look, I have a theory, that Walter shares, that everyone who has ever heard the Pina Colada Song has a fantasy about making love in the dunes at the Cape," Rick continued. "And watching you looking at Kendall tonight, I have the feeling that thought maybe ran through your mind once or twice."
Logan laughed. "Am I that obvious?"
"You really are, but it's wonderful. Don't ever stop looking at him like that."
"This whole vacation was dreamt up one night when I thought about being with Kendall like that," Logan admitted.
"Then you should go for it! You guys and Mark and Abby are the only ones staying over. Everyone else either already lives down here or is staying at their own accommodations. Come out for a couple of drinks with us, then you guys sneak back here from some privacy-we'll be out till dawn, if I know Walter and his cousin. We have everything you'd need in any of our bathroom cabinets…"
"We have stuff in the car-in the glove compartment," Logan said, beginning to think this might be doable.
"See? You're all prepared, just like good Boy Scouts," Rick laughed. "You'll have the place to yourselves, and the beach is incredibly romantic at night. Just don't go swimming if you think either of you are even the slightest bit drunk, and if you do go into the ocean, don't go out past your waists, okay? Oh, and one other thing, as romantic as sex on the beach can be, be very careful not to get any sand in or on you down there. With the friction, you'll definitely feel irritation, and you guys won't be making any pearls from it."
Logan laughed, but nodded his head. This was all good advice.
After everyone was ready to leave the beach house, the group made their way down to the end of the street near the parking lot. Party buses cruised around Provincetown dropping people off and picking them up-it was easier and safer than driving and parking. The buses were basically repurposed school mini-buses painted psychedelic colors. Walter explained to Kendall and Logan (since they were the only newbies) that you just paid whatever fare you wanted, and the drivers would pool their money at the end of the night. Walter said he'd usually pay five dollars per person if it was just him and a small group, more if he wanted the driver to come back to a certain spot at a certain time, and that tonight since they'd be a big group he'd just pay everyone's fare. When they got on the bus, he greeted the driver by name and gave him a hundred dollar bill.
"How's tricks tonight, Tony?" Walter said.
"Good, good, everyone's in a Fourth Of July mood!" Tony replied. "You planning a late night? Tony could tell by the fare that Walter wasn't going to ask for a pick up.
"Planning an early morning," Walter laughed. Everyone found seats and the bus got moving. The group was dropped off downtown and they all just followed Walter into the nearest bar. Later on they'd hit up a place that had dancing, but this was just a plain old bar, for starters.
Logan and Rick had told Kendall and Walter separately about Logan's plan to head back to the beach house. Rick had given Logan his keys and told him the alarm code and told him they could sneak off whenever they wanted. Logan had asked Kendall if he'd rather stay out with the group, or head back for skinny dipping, and Kendall didn't need to think that over for even a second.
"Skinny dipping," he grinned. "And maybe some sex on the beach?"
"You read my mind." Logan had filled Kendall in on the privacy they'd have.
At the bar, they pushed three round tables together and the whole group jammed in. Walter asked their waitress to bring them a bottle of their finest champagne. Everyone started to hoot and holler and ask him what they were celebrating, but he told them to settle down and wait for the glasses and the bottle. When all that was brought over, Walter stood up and made a little speech.
"We're celebrating friends, old and new," he said, nodding to Kendall and Logan, "and summer, and America's birthday. And if anyone wanted to add anything else…" he looked to Kendall and Logan again. Logan looked at Kendall, who was grinning right back at him.
Logan took a deep breath, looked over at Mark for a second, and then said, "Kendall and are I getting married-we got engaged the other night."
A cheer went up, not only at their three tables, but from all the tables around them. Walter popped the cork on the champagne and managed to get most of it into the glasses. Everyone drank to the couple, and to summer, and to America's birthday, and to friends old and new.
After the champagne, Kendall and Logan switched to Cokes and stayed for a couple of drinks, accepting the congratulations of the group and hearing other engagement accounts from some of the other couples. Mark was really happy for his friends, he knew how much Logan loved Kendall and knew they'd have a beautiful life together-they already did.
Kendall and Logan said a quiet goodbye to Mark and his girlfriend and caught Rick's eye on their way out the door. Walter was busy ordering more drinks, but they knew he wouldn't mind.
They caught a party bus quickly, and Kendall gave the driver a twenty.
"You want change, pal?" the driver asked, as Kendall started walking to the seats.
"No thanks, that's for me and my friend here," he said, looking over at Logan, who smiled.
"Where do you want to get dropped off?" the driver asked.
"Sea Spray Lane?" Logan said.
"Oh, sure, I know where that is. Sit tight and I'll get you there in a jiffy."
Logan looked towards the back of the bus, where the seats were full of men who were giggling and whispering quietly. "Don't these people need to get where they're going first?" Logan asked. He didn't want special treatment just because Kendall was a little generous with the fare.
"Naw, they're alright. We've circled past their destination three times now already. They're having fun singing camp songs-the bus reminded some of them of summer camp and now they're making a game out of it. They only piped down because I yelled at them not to scare off new riders and to let me hear where they're going. They'll get back into it as we get on the road. Sing along if you'd like, they'll love it."
Kendall and Logan made their way to the empty seat closest to the group. They were greeted by smiles and salutations, and sure enough, once the bus started moving, the group went into the loudest, most boisterous version of Kumbaya the guys had ever heard. They joined in, it was fun.
After a couple more songs, they were dropped off at the end of Walter and Rick's street. They got off the bus and a bunch of the guys in the back hung out the open top halves of the windows calling after them.
"It was lovely meeting you boys!" "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" "Don't worry about that, guys, this one will do almost anything-what he won't do is a wicked short list!"
Kendall and Logan were waving goodbye from the sidewalk, Kendall threw his arm over Logan's shoulder and there were some hoots from the bus, so Logan kissed Kendall's cheek and then there were cheers. The driver waved and put the bus back in gear and got it rolling. Kendall and Logan looked at each other.
"I like Provincetown," Logan said.
"Me too," Kendall replied. They walked over to the parking lot where their SUV was and Kendall beeped open the locks. He went to the back to get the clean towels they had there, and Logan went to the front to get the lube out of the glove compartment. Then he opened the door to the back seat and grabbed their hoodies from there. Kendall beeped the car locked again and they walked to the end of the street holding hands, their towels and sweatshirts slung over their shoulders.
At the beach house, they let themselves in and turned off the alarm and turned on all the outside lights facing the ocean. They had kicked their shoes off when they got inside, and made quick stops in the bathrooms downstairs, and then headed out back and down to the water. There was a lot of moonlight-the moon had been full three nights before, and plenty of ambient light from the house illuminating the sand, but the water was still dark and mysterious.
"The water looks just like your eyes in the dark when you're over me," Kendall murmured to Logan. Logan grinned at Kendall, the moonlight flashing off his teeth. They stripped off their clothes and just faced the ocean for a moment, letting the warm air carry traces of salt spray all over them. It felt good. Things were starring to tingle. Waves were pounding into the shore, but the surf was only about two to three feet high. Logan reached for Kendall's hand and they half jogged into the water up to their ankles. The water was a little chilly compared to the night air, but it felt good after being in the crowded bar and on the un-air conditioned bus. Kendall pulled Logan to him with a light tug on his hand and kissed him. Logan kissed back, more seriously than Kendall had kissed him.
"I thought you wanted to swim…?" Kendall began.
"I do, but then you said that nice thing about my eyes and when we kissed just then you pressed up against me," Logan said in a low voice.
"Oh, sorry," Kendall said, smiling and not really sorry at all.
"Just make sure it happens again," Logan said in a mock serious voice.
They walked a bit deeper into the water, heeding the advice not to go past their waists. Rick and Walter assured them there usually wasn't a rip tide, or even particularly rough surf on a calm night such as this, but with no lifeguard it just made sense to stay where they could keep their feet on the bottom. With the waves crashing into them, even being waist deep meant their shoulders were getting covered with water every few seconds. They splashed around happily, diving under and resurfacing and paddling about, enjoying the freedom of swimming naked, the water lifting and moving parts of their anatomy that got maximum benefit from that sort of thing.
After a while, Logan swam right up to Kendall and wrapped his arms around his neck and his legs around his waist. Kendall put his arms around Logan's waist and smiled into his dark eyes. "Yes? May I help you?"
"I'm counting on it," Logan growled, crashing his lips into Kendall's and licking his tongue past the salt water on Kendall's lips. They kissed passionately, the ocean swirling all around them in the alien light of the moon. Kendall had no problem keeping his footing and was able to totally give into Logan's attentions. The ocean was bobbing Logan up and down against him, and both their bodies were responding. "Let's get on the beach," Logan panted. Swimming was done for now.
They went to where they left their towels and clothes and scooped them up, then Logan led them to a spot in the dunes. The sand was completely dry there, and the breeze was being somewhat blocked by surrounding dunes. Long strands of grass arched gracefully away from the ocean and towards the house from the wind. Logan spread out one of their towels and looked up at Kendall, who was just waiting, perfectly content to let Logan run the show. Logan was about to say something, but then reached down and picked up his pants and dug the tube of lube out of one of the pockets. He slapped it into Kendall's hand like a surgical nurse giving a doctor a scalpel in the middle of an operation. Kendall raised his eyebrows in mild surprise but was willing to do what Logan wanted. He gave Logan a little nod and a big grin, and Logan smiled and kissed him, his arms snaking around Kendall's wet waist and pulling him close. They kissed for more than a few moments, then Logan gently broke away and got down on his hands and knees on the blanket. Kendall was momentarily surprised again, and even though Logan wasn't looking at him he sensed Kendall's hesitation and said, "Figure we have to keep things up out of the sand."
"Oh, oh yeah," Kendall says, dropping to his knees behind Logan and leaning over his body. Logan twisted his neck around to look back at Kendall, and Kendall leaned forward as far as he could to kiss Logan. "It's darker down here, behind the dunes," Kendall observed.
"Scared of the dark, Knight?" Logan chuckled.
"Not as long as I have you here with me. You chase the scary away," Kendall said, kissing Logan's shoulder. He placed one hand on Logan's hip and started to rub circles there with his thumb, and then with his other hand he popped open the lube and managed to get his fingers and thumb of that hand slicked up. He pressed his index finger into Logan, ever so gently, dotting his back with kisses at the same time.
Logan loved every second of this, had wanted it for so long. The reality shouldn't have lived up to the fantasy he had built up in his head, but actually, it was better. In his dreams there wasn't the scent of the ocean air, there wasn't the feeling of the warmth of the day's sun still trapped in the sand and seeping into the palms of his hands and the skin of his knees through the towel. There wasn't the feel of their overheated skin being cooled by the breeze. He hadn't imagined how relaxed and compliant he'd feel after days of no work and lots of love making. And they weren't engaged in Logan's dreams. He hadn't seen that coming at all. He lowered his head and stretched his neck from side to side as Kendall stretched him inside. Everything felt so good and warm and right.
Kendall carefully picked up the lube again, being sure to keep it and his hand away from the sand. He started lubing up his cock and Logan reached back a hand and helped with that as well. "You ready?" Kendall whispered, the breeze taking his words right to Logan's ear. Logan nodded. Kendall slowly and gently began pushing into Logan, but Logan had the advantage of being in a position to push back and took Kendall in at a speed Kendall never would've tried, but that was just right for both of them. Logan relished the feeling of their soft skin rubbing against each other in the most sensitive of places. Kendall filled him up perfectly and everything was silky smooth and hot. Logan began rocking his hips, willing Kendall to thrust into him with abandon. Kendall picked up the pace, feeling Logan respond and knowing he wanted more. The noises they were making were loud enough for each other, but still no competition for the waves and the wind. Everything was wild and free and Kendall knew he was getting close. He wrapped his arm around Logan's waist and started stroking him firmly. Logan moaned and scrabbled his hands on the blanket, shoving it out of the way so he'd jizz onto the sand instead, which he did a few seconds later when Kendall hit his prostate in just the right way. His insides clenched tightly around Kendall's cock and Kendall came, telling Logan he loved him. They rode out their orgasms and then Kendall rested his flushed cheek on Logan's back, still holding him around the middle, still inside him.
He pulled out after another minute, and Logan spread the towel perpendicular to how it had been so it wouldn't be in the puddle of goo that was quickly sinking into the sand, and pulled Kendall down onto the towel with him. Kendall laid his head across Logan's chest, and Logan stroked Kendall's hair while Kendall snuggled into Logan like a puzzle piece.
"So, why the switch up?" Kendall asked, when he finally had breath enough.
Logan shrugged. "Just something I've been thinking about for a while-it's the whole reason I wanted to come to the beach, so we could do just that, if we had a chance." Kendall could hear the satisfaction in Logan's voice.
"How long have you been thinking about this?"
"Since last winter," Logan told him.
"You always do have the best ideas," Kendall said, hugging him tighter. They walked back to the house and used the outdoor shower, Walter and Rick kept soap and shampoo in there, and Kendall and Logan really enjoyed this whole being outside, naked, and wet thing.
The next morning they awoke and made their way downstairs to Walter scrambling eggs.
"Good morning, gentlemen! Did you enjoy your night?" he asked from the stove. "There's coffee all made, help yourselves."
"How are you even awake?" Logan asked, rubbing the small of his back. The bed in the guest room had been one of the most comfortable spots Logan had ever had the pleasure of resting, but he had really gone at it with Kendall out in the dunes and he was still more than a little tender this morning. "What time did you get up?"
"I've not been to bed yet, that's the key," Walter laughed. "Rick will come lumbering in here like a bear in a short while, hung over and cranky, whilst I'm still dancing on air. You guys want lobster in your eggs? We saved some in the fridge last night for that express purpose." Kendall and Logan agreed to try that delicacy and were delighted with how good it tasted. As predicted, Rick, and even Mark and Abby, staggered in at various stages of the breakfast proceedings, looking the worse for wear.
After breakfast Kendall and Logan insisted on doing the clean up and then went for a walk down the beach while everyone else had showers and tried to come back to life, except Walter, of course. He had a shower, but was still going strong from the night before. He said he was going to get some painting done while the inspiration was striking him.
Kendall and Logan were enjoying the morning sun, taking their time walking down the beach at the waterline, holding hands and just being together. Logan saw some particularly bright white shells he wanted to bring home as a souvenir (he always wanted to remember last night on this beach), but when he bent over to pick them up, he groaned.
"Allow me, dear sir," Kendall said gallantly, squatting down easily to pick up the shells as Logan pointed to each one he wanted. Kendall looked up into Logan's face, laughing gently. "I'd feel guilty, but as I recall, it was you slamming into my balls and thighs last night…"
Logan laughed too. "Yup, and every twinge this morning is worth it."
"Why do you like it so hard and heavy sometimes?" Kendall wondered out loud.
"Because it's hot," Logan said. "Don't you like it that way sometimes?"
Kendall grinned. "You know I do. You just seem to like it that way more often, maybe?"
Logan shook his head. "I think maybe it just seems that way because I don't bottom as much as you do. When I get the chance to, I tend to want as much out of it as possible. But I love the times we've been gentle and slow too, don't worry."
"I wasn't worried, exactly, but I do want you to be satisfied," Kendall said, a little shyly. Logan put his hand out to pull Kendall up.
" 'Satisfied' is sort of an understatement, but, yes, I am." He looked deep into Kendall's eyes, the sun reflecting off the water into the depths of his own fathomless dark eyes. Kendall's eyes welled up with tears. He loved Logan so much. Still holding on to Logan's hand, he wrapped his other arm around Logan and pulled him into a kiss that was gentle, but very deep. When the finally broke for air, Kendall realized he was squeezing the shells in his hand and slowly opened up his fist so none of them would fall.
"What are you going to do with these?" Kendall asked.
"Back home, there's a store I walk past to get to the lab and I noticed in their window they sell these little glass boxes with hinged lids. They're probably supposed to be jewelry boxes or something. Anyway, I've always wanted a reason to have one-there's one that's about four inches square, and now I'm thinking I can put these shells in it and always have a reminder of this weekend, and where we got engaged."
"Logan, I had no idea you had a sentimental side," Kendal said.
"Of course I do. I have every program from every hockey game you played in college, for one thing," Logan said.
"You do?" Kendall was getting near tears again. He knew Logan loved him, but he always thought it was in a very practical, in the moment type of way.
"Do you think that box would look cool with some sand in the bottom of it?" Kendall asked, an idea forming.
"Yeah, I think that would look nice-we could nestle the little shells down in it," Logan said. "Can you think of something to put it in? Maybe Walter could give us a sandwich baggie…"
"Well, I was thinking of getting the sand from Nauset, since that's where…" Kendall began.
"You popped the question!" Logan finished for him. "Kendall, that's perfect, and romantic, and I love you."
"Love you too, Logan. Love you too."
Author's Note: So I took a little liberty making the P-Town Funk Buses better than reality-in real life, groups can charter them, like renting a limousine, but they don't just travel around keeping revelers safe. Maybe it's a business I could go start up.
